Classical music composed by Sergei Prokofiev Great piece, maybe my favourite out of all Prokofiev's music. Montagues and Capulets also known as Dance of the Knights is a score composed by Sergei Prokofiev. It is from Act I, Scene 2 of the ballet Romeo and Juliet. A dark and atmospheric piece, it has become a de facto signature tune for the Soviet era, and is used as the soundtrack for numerous dramas, documentaries and adverts that have Soviet subject matter. It was used as the background music in a popular 1990s French commercial for Chanel's Egoiste fragrance, and it was the competition music for the Canadian television mockumentary Kenny vs. Spenny. The piece has also been used as the theme score for the English football club Sunderland who play at the Stadium of Light in order to evoke a stirring mood before kick-off and to trouble the nerves of visiting opponents. Since the stadium opened in 1997, Dance of the Knights is played, in full, before the teams walk out onto the pitch before the game. The use of the piece in this context saw interest in Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet rise sharply in the North-East of England toward the end of the 1990s.[citation needed] Furthermore, this composition is used as title music for the movie Caligula. The German Technical Death Metal band Necrophagist uses a portion of this piece at the end of their song Only Ash Remains. It is also used in the song 'Lords of Bedlam' by the Austrian symphonic death metal band Hollenthon. The Smiths would also famously come on stage to the ...

Prokofiev: Cinderella (Paris Opera Ballet)Rudolf Nureyevs colourful, movie-star version of Prokofievs Cinderella retains the classic Perrault story but sets it in America during the difficult years of the Great Depression in the 1930s and 1940s. Agnès Letestu stars as Cinderella who, living with her alcoholic father, tyrannical stepmother and two spiteful stepsisters, dreams of escape and stardom in Hollywood. After a promising screen-test during which The Film Star, suavely portrayed by José Martinez, falls head over heels in love with her, she is fearful that her new-found happiness is too good to be true and will vanish with her youth. Fortunately, her magical protector (in the form of The Producer) and her lover move heaven and earth for a happily ever after ending. This is Paris Opera Ballet at its very best. Available from Opus Arte on DVD www.opusarte.com Please 'Like' us at www.facebook.com

Romeo & Juliet Fantasy-Overture (Tchaikovsky)Tchaikovsky wrote this symphonic poem based on William Shakespeare's play of tragic romance, Romeo & Juliet. This is one of my all-time favorite pieces of classical music, and it is the music that introduced me to my all-time favorite composer Tchaikovsky, and well as the music that got me hooked on classical music just two years ago. While making the video to go with this music, I was trying to decide on what to tell the story with picture-wise since good pictures of the Romeo and Juliet plot-line didn't seem to fit with the music that well. After listening to the music a few times through, I discovered that during the length of the piece I could see roses representing the famous love theme and fire representing the turbulent fight scenes between the battling families. In order to tell a story through the music and pictures, I began with the sun rising on peaceful springtime scenes, and the looming foreshadowing of death for the two star-crossed lovers. Then as the strife continues with the Capulets and Montagues, fire is sparked and burns through the rest of the video. As the lovers meet and fall deeply in love, pink, white, and red roses tell their story of bliss. In the end, the lovers meet their deaths; however, their burning love never meets its end. Thus, the story ends with the remaining red rose and the sun setting in the never-ending horizon. Enjoy!

Toccata and Fugue - J.S. BachVanessa-Mae plays a rare version of Toccata and Fugue with her acoustic violin, accompanied by the Bratislava Radio Symphony Orchestra. This was during her classical tour in 1996.

The kingdom of this world;
is become
the kingdom of our Lord,
and of His Christ
and of His Christ

And He shall reign for ever and ever
And he shall reign forever and ever
And he shall reign forever and ever
And he shall reign forever and ever

King of kings forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah
and lord of lords forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah
King of kings forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah
and lord of lords forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah
King of kings forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah
and lord of lords
King of kings and lord of lords

And he shall reign
And he shall reign
And he shall reign
He shall reign
And he shall reign forever and ever

King of kings forever and ever
and lord of lords hallelujah hallelujah
And he shall reign forever and ever

King of kings and lord of lords
King of kings and lord of lords
And he shall reign forever and ever

Anitras Dance Peer GyntThe Chamber Orchestra of S.Joao da Madeira Music Academy directed by Richard Tomes plays 'Anitras' Dance' from Peer Gynt by Grieg during a concert at the Music Academy SJM.
in June 2006.

Rachmaninoff - Vocalise For ViolinTitle : Sergei Rachmaninov, Vocalise (Songs (14), Op. 34: no 14)
From Wikipedia,Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14 is a song by Sergei Rachmaninoff, published in 1912 as the last of his Fourteen Songs, Opus 34. Written for voice (soprano or tenor) with piano accompaniment, it contains no words, but is sung using any one vowel (of the singer's choosing). It was dedicated to soprano Antonina Nezhdanova.
Although the original publication stipulates that the song may be sung by either soprano or tenor voice, it is usually chosen to be performed by a soprano. As with many classical vocal pieces, it is transcribed in a variety of keys, allowing the performer to choose a vocal range more suitable to their natural voice, so that artists who may not have the higher range of a soprano can nevertheless perform the song. When sung by a tenor, it is sung an octave lower than the same key when sung by a soprano.

THE SEVEN YEAR OLD SURGEON
"The Seven Year-Old Surgeon" profiles child prodigy Akrit Jaswal from a remote village at the foothills of the Himalayas. By the age of five, Akrit was reading Shakespeare and by seven had performed his first surgical operation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_eAkdtYay4

5-Yr-Old Violinist Allegro Brilliante Op. 19
The 5-Year-Old violinist is now 6-1/4-yr-old and played W. Ten Have "Allegro Brilliante, Op. 19" using a 1/4-size violin with 1/2-size bow on the Suzuki Level VII Graduation Recital
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAdmifpfJOo

Film of Hawaii's best Magician as a child
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wg50D8aw-1c

THE WORLD'S STRONGEST BOY
An observational film that follows Richard Sandrak, an 11 year-old child who since the age of 6 has been described pound for pound as the "strongest human being in the world"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esrqV8IVorQ

This, one of Tchaikovsky's best-loved vocal pieces, comes from his collection of six songs, Op. 6. The fact that it was composed to a Russian translation of its original German text by Goethe often obscures its membership in the large family of setting of the same poem, "Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt" (Only he who knows loneliness). One of Mignon's songs from the novel Wilhelm Meister, this text inspired most of the Romantic lieder composers, most notably Schubert, Schumann, and Wolf, to compose some of their most memorable settings; the poem's sense of desolate yearning speaks to the very heart of Romanticism, and Tchaikovsky certainly owed allegiance to that aesthetic.

Tchaikovsky's setting makes use of a syncopated chordal accompaniment; the lack of rhythmic grounding and the chromatic nature of chosen harmonies the inner harmony voices conspire to highlight the restless, disquieted tone of Goethe's text.

From Wikipedia,The Blue Danube is the common English title of An der schÃ¶nen blauen Donau op. 314 (On the Beautiful Blue Danube), a waltz by Johann Strauss II, composed in 1867. Originally performed 9 February 1867 at a concert of the Wiener MÃ¤nnergesangsverein (Vienna Men's Choral Association), it has been one of the most consistently popular pieces of music in the classical repertoire. Its initial performance was only a mild success, however, and Strauss is reputed to have said "The devil take the waltz, my only regret is for the coda -- I wish that had been a success!"

The waltz originally had an accompanying song text written by Josef Weyl. Strauss adapted it into a purely orchestral version for the World's Fair in Paris that same year, and it became a great success in this form. The instrumental version is by far the most commonly performed today. An alternate text by Franz von Gernerth, Donau so blau (Danube so blue), is also used on occasion.

The sentimental Viennese connotations of the piece have made it into a sort of unofficial Austrian national anthem. It is a traditional encore piece at the annual Vienna New Year's Concert. The first few bars are also the interval signal of Osterreich Rundfunk's overseas programs.

It is reported by composer Norman Lloyd in his "Golden Encyclopedia of Music" that when asked by Frau Strauss for an autograph, the composer Johannes Brahms autographed Mrs. Strauss's fan by writing on it the first few bars of the Blue Danube. Under it he wrote "Unfortunately not by Johannes Brahms".The work commences with an extended introduction in the key of A major with shimmering (tremolo) violins and a French horn spelling out the familiar waltz theme, answered by staccato wind chords, in a subdued mood. It rises briefly into a loud passage but quickly dies down into the same restful nature of the opening bars. A contrasting and quick phrase in D major anticipates the waltz before 3 quiet downward-moving bass notes "usher in" the first principal waltz melody.

The first waltz theme is familiar gently rising triad motif in cellos and horns in the tonic D major, accompanied by harps; the Viennese waltz beat is accentuated at the end of each 3-note phrase. The Waltz 1A triumphantly ends its rounds of the motif, and waltz 1B follows in the same key; the genial mood is still apparent.

Waltz 2A glides in quietly (still in D major) before a short contrasting middle section in B flat major. The entire section is repeated.

A more dour waltz 3A is introduced in G major before a fleeting eighth-note melodic phrase (waltz 3B). An loud Intrada (introduction) is then played. Waltz 4A starts off in a romantic mood (F major) before a more joyous waltz 4B in the same key.

After another short Intrada in A, cadencing in F-sharp minor, sonorous clarinets spell out the poignant melody of waltz 5A in A. Waltz 5B is the climax, punctuated by cymbal crashes. Each of these may be repeated at the discretion of the performer.

The coda recalls earlier sections (3A and 2A) before furious chords usher in a recap of the romantic Waltz 4A. The idyll is cut short as the waltz hurries back to the famous waltz theme 1A again. This statement is cut short, however, by the final codetta: a variation of 1A is presented, connecting to a rushing eighth-note passage in the final few bars: repeated tonic chords underlined by a snare drumroll and a bright-sounding flourish.

Americas Got Talent - Jackie Evancho 10 Opera SingerThe YouTube.com community picked their favorite Jackie Evancho. She is a young opera singer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and can be compared to Susan Boyle. Now she may look like an average kid, but this child has a set of pipes. The video entry gave an amazing performance that one person commented sounded like an Angel. Looking to be a very young contestant, there is no doubt she might steal the show.

Bio
Jackie Evancho - 10yrs old - Singer
Jackie has a style that is all her own. At ten years old, she possesses an ability that many older artists lack. Her talent and presence captivate all that hear her. Jackie performs with such style and grace that we forget that we are watching/listening to a child. She has been called by a many, a singing prodigy!

By Jerry Shriver, USA TODAY
When a 10-year-old singer belted out a Puccini aria with the polished voice of someone thrice her age on Tuesday night's episode of America's Got Talent, the "next Susan Boyle!" superlatives flowed across the mediascape. But so did the question: Is Jackie Evancho for real?
The precocious soprano, a Pittsburgh-area fourth-grader who auditioned for the NBC show with a YouTube video, wowed the panel with a live performance of O Mio Babbino Caro. But a video clip appears to show that her lips are ever-so-slightly out of sync with the audio.

Fremantle, the company that produces AGT and Fox's American Idol, makes contestants available only to local media. But "there was no lip-syncing," says producer Jason Raff.

LIFELINE LIVE:More on Jackie, plus see video

During rehearsals, "the whole crew was saying it looked like she's lip-syncing," he says. "And on the close-ups, her mouth is moving a different way than the sound coming out. It is weird, but it's just how she sings."

The voters embraced her happily: On Wednesday's results show, Evancho advanced to the semifinals.

Further testimony to her true talent comes from her track record: Her self-released EP, Prelude to a Dream, has sold around the world, and she has performed with David Foster, sung the national anthem at the Pittsburgh Pirates home opener and appeared on PBS.

"She is just truly blessed with a voice that's phenomenal," says classical-crossover composer/conductor Tim Janis, who is including Evancho in his American Christmas Carol show (Dec. 2) at Carnegie Hall.

A film producer had alerted Janis to Evancho two years ago, and he put her in one of his Celebrate America specials for the Pittsburgh public television station WQED. "Jackie just stood out and shined," he says. Her voice "totally captivated me and sent me to a place that was uplifting and inspiring."

Even if listeners don't know that it's a child singing, "the voice stands on its own. It's a big sound that fills the room."

The reaction recalls the Cinderella story of Boyle, who became an Internet sensation after her Britain's Got Talent appearance and went on to record an album that has sold 9 million copies worldwide.

Evancho trains with at least two vocal coaches, which is essential at her age "to make sure you don't abuse the gift," Janis says. "A young vocalist is in the process of developing those muscles, and you don't overdo it."

He won't speculate whether Evancho, who sings both pop and classical, will choose one specialty. "She has a rare gift to speak to many hearts. In my mind, the classical setting is a really nice match for her voice. But someone who doesn't follow that genre can still appreciate the beauty.

Chopin Mazurka op17 No 4 - Michel Mananes LiveMichel Mananes plays one of the most beautiful Chopin Mazurka No 4 op.17 A minor 13 .All this pieces are played in an "Antique Bosendorfer". With recitals for europa and suramerica specially. He won first prize in several young piano competitions. He is Piano Teacher in Madrid and continue to give concerts.Chopin Mazurca.classical concert pianist.
http://www.geocities.com/pianistmananes/index.html

Frederic Chopin - March 1, 1810[1] -- October 17, 1849) was a Polish[2][3] composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic period. He is widely regarded as the greatest Polish composer, and ranks as one of music's greatest tone poets.[4]

He was born in the village of Å»elazowa Wola, in the Duchy of Warsaw, to a Polish mother and French-expatriate father, and in his early life was regarded as a child-prodigy pianist. In November 1830, at the age of 20, Chopin went abroad; following the suppression of the Polish November Uprising of 1830--31, he became one of many expatriates of the Polish "Great Emigration."

In Paris, he made a comfortable living as a composer and piano teacher, while giving few public performances. A Polish patriot,[5][6] in France he used the French versions of his names and eventually, to avoid having to rely on Imperial Russian documents, became a French citizen.[7][8][9] After some ill-fated romantic involvements with Polish women, from 1837 to 1847 he conducted a turbulent relationship with the French writer George Sand (Aurore Dudevant). Always in frail health, in 1849 he died in Paris, at the age of 39, of chronic pulmonary tuberculosis.[10][11]

Chopin composed 58 Mazurkas (there seem to be at least another 2 unfinished sketches) and many of his other works of different genres are either inspired by the Mazurka or have parts of Mazurkas within them. Chopin did, of course, not invent the Mazurka form. However, it was he alone who put the Mazurka on the public stage and refined it into the highest art of music. In his Mazurkas, you get to know the very soul of Poland and Chopin never forgot his home land or the poor farmers singing the Mazurkas during the time of harvest. Chopin started his composing with a Polonaise and ended with a Mazurka, thus closing the circle.